Iran is planning a maritime 'exclusion zone' near the Strait of Hormuz aimed at vessels it believes are attempting to transit the waterway, further escalating tensions with the United States and threatening global shipping and energy supplies.

Iran plans to declare a restricted zone in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening sanctions on vessels that transit without authorization from Tehran.

Iran's top security official has announced that the country will be establishing a new restricted zone in the Persian Gulf. This move comes amid ongoing tensions in the region,…